The first official 2yo trials of the season are eagerly anticipated by all industry participants, but when you have a first season sire with a strong representation, the hype is palpable.
Ole Kirk, whose first 2yos are set to hit the track this season, had three runners for two winners at Randwick’s 2yo trials on Monday. Of the eight heats, Ole Kirk was the only sire represented by multiple winners.
King Kirk (2c Ole Kirk x Oxford Angel) was the first of the Ole Kirks to be seen in Heat 3. He jumped fairly and worked up strongly along the rail, finding a gap in the home straight and finishing strongly to win by half a length. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott trained colt clocked the fastest final 600m of the morning.
O’Ole (2f Ole Kirk x Vellor) was dominant from the begnning in Heat 6. She jumped to the front and led all the way, to win by just under half a length. This professional filly recorded the equal fastest heat of the morning under jockey Rachel King.
Trainer Bjorn Baker has always had a good opinion of the Ole Kirks and said “they’re all nice, they’ve all got a really good constitution, a good attitude, so I’m happy with them at this stage.”
Of the filly he said that “there’s probably a fair bit of improvement there in terms of fitness. The 850m is the furthest she’s been. I’d like to get her to the Gimcrack.”
Ole Kirk stands this season at Vinery Stud for a fee of $55,000 inc. GST and payable on live foal this season.